Ramadaan- The Bestowal of The Furqaan
The Month of Ramadaan in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for mankind, and clear proofs for the guidance and the Furqaan. (Quran 2:185)
With yearly sermons and frequent reminders it has become common knowledge that the month of Ramadaan serves not only to bring a month of fasting but also a month where in we excel in the recitation and study of the Quran. It was during the month of Ramadaan that Allah chose to reveal the Quran. Although Allah revealed the Quran to Muhammad in stages, it was Allah Who sent Jibreel to Muhammad during Ramadaan so that he could go over the Quran with our Prophet. And although Allah guided the companions to daily recitation of the Quran it was Allah Who guided them to increase in its study during the month of Ramadaan. So the association between this blessed month and the blessed Book of Allah is clear. In the above verse Allah mentions an important attribute of the Quran which we should all be familiar with, and that is its description of being the Furqaan. This is an important characteristic, for the word Quran describes the attribute of how The Book of Allah is recited whereas the word Furqaan describes the criterion whereby truth is separated from falsehood.
And when Faraqnaa (We separated) the sea for you and saved you, and drowned the people of Pharaoh while you were watching. (Quran 2:50)
From the language the word Furqaan describes something which separates a thing into different parts. In the above verse Allah used the word Faraqnaa in describing how He separated the water of the sea into two parts so as to allow Moses and his followers to cross the dry path.
Verily those who Farraqo (break up) their religion and form sects, you have no concern about them, (Quran 6:159)
Similarly Allah uses the word Farraqo to describe the evil act of breaking up the religion into separate sects. So again the word is used in reference to that which separates something into parts.
If you believe in Allah and in what We sent down to Our slave on The Day of The Furqaan, the day when the two forces met. And Allah is able to do all things. (Quran 8:41)
In the above verse Allah called the battle of Badr ‘The Day of the Furqaan’ describing how it was a day wherein truth was separated from falsehood through a manifest victory of Islam.
O you who believe! If you have Taqwa of Allah He will grant you a Furqaan. (Quran 8: 29)
Allah has promised to give those who have Taqwa a Furqaan whereby they will be able to distinguish right from wrong by His leave. So again the word Furqaan is used in a similar context.
The Furqaan is The Quraan
And when we gave Musa the The Book and The Furqaan so that you may be guided (Quran 2:53)
In addition Allah uses the word Furqaan specifically when describing His Books which He sent as guidance from Him. Through these divine scriptures the children of Adam where able to distinguish truth from falsehood; guidance from misguidance; and the permissible from the prohibited. It is also important to note that the Furqaan was given to Prophets, so it was impossible to understand the scriptures with all their beliefs and laws without understanding the explanation and implementation offered by the Prophets of Allah. In the above verse Allah describes the Torah as the Furqaan but He also mentions how He gave the Furqaan to Moses so that guidance could reach the people.
Blessed is He Who sent down The Furqaan to His slave so that it may be a warning to the Aalameen. (Quran 25:1)
Similarly Allah describes the Quran as the Furqaan given to His slave Muhammad whereby the people were once again brought out from darkness into light with truth made distinct from falsehood; guidance made clear from misguidance; and the Halaal made known from the Haraam.
Surely We have sent down to you The Book in truth that you may judge between mankind with that which Allah has shown you. (Quran 4:105)
Our Prophet judged between the people using the Furqaan in the manner Allah had shown him through the Hikmah and Sunna bestowed to him. So he clarified truth from falsehood, guidance from misguidance, and halaal from haraam by explaining the verses in the Book of Allah through his Sunna.
The Furqaan separates Guidance from Misguidance
There is no compulsion in the religion. Verily the right path has been distinct from the wrong path. Whoever disbelieves in Taaghoot and believes in Allah the he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break. And Allah is The All Hearing, the All Knowing. (Quran 2:256)
Through the Furqaan guidance became distinct from misguidance with clear instructions and proofs from Allah to abandon the worship of false gods and direct all worship to Him. This is the path which leads to grasping the most trustworthy handhold which never breaks. A path free from all kinds of misguidance from the splitting away from the way of the companions to innovating in the religion; from copying the ways of those who disbelieved to following our intellects and lusts over obeying His commands and listening to Him; from chasing the deceptions of this fleeting life to forgetting death and the grave.
The Furqaan separates Halaal from Haraam
Allah has permitted trading and forbidden Ribaa (Quran 2:275)
Through the Furqaan the halaal became known from the haraam. Allah hates certain beliefs and actions and He made them known to us through the Furqaan and Sunna. So it is upon us to prove our loyalty to Allah, and worship Him with fear and love so that we may stay away from that which makes Him angry. If we truly love Allah we would not want to anger Him by indulging in things He Hates. Our love for Allah would fill our hearts with joy and a desire to please Him and draw close to Him. And if we truly feared Allah we would not dare to tread on that which could raise His Anger. Our fear for Allah would fill our hearts with awe and dread directing us to run away from His wrath. Kowf, Khashah and Rahbah.
Through the prohibition of shirk He freed us from the lowly pathetic act of worshipping something created. Through the prohibition of splitting from the way of the Prophet and his companions He protected us from differing, dividing and innovating in this religion of His. Through the prohibition of unjust killing He directed us to the respect and honor for human life. Through the prohibition of Ribaa He protected us from placing unjust financial burdens on ourselves and others. Through the prohibition of black magic He prevented us from reliance on the devils and causing harm to others through Jinn. Through the prohibition of zinaa He protected the chastity of His slaves and through the prohibition of adultery He protected the noble bond of marriage. Through the prohibition of slander and backbiting He protected the reputation and honor of His slaves, and through the prohibition of stealing He protected their property. Through the prohibition of unjust anger He prevented us from harming others while emotions are raised. Through the prohibition of music He protected our hearts from being covered lest our remembrance of Him be compromised and our Khushoo be lessened and lost. Allah has forbidden all falsehood, evil, sin, transgression and oppression. And It is enough for us to submit to Him without inquiring after the reasons why He imposed prohibitions for through them He makes known and separates those who are obedient from those who are not, and obedience is nothing but manifest worship and submission to Him.
The Furqaan separates Haqq from Baatil
And with the truth We have sent it down and with the truth it has descended (Quran 17:105)
The Furqaan separates the truth (Haqq) from falsehood (Baatil) and through it Allah made the truth known to mankind.
And no example or similitude do they bring but We reveal to you the truth and the best Tafseer. (Quran 25:33)
All falsehoods and lies were exposed and the truth explained in the best of ways, with Allah clarifying the truth about Himself and His creation. He explained the truth related to both seen and unseen worlds; past and future times including our purpose in life, life after death and our meeting with Him. 'Nay We fling the truth against falsehood so it destroys it and behold it is vanished.' (Quran 21:18)
O Allah! Increase us in the recitation of Your Book, The Quraan, and direct us to its study and its use as The Furqaan. Exalted be Thy Majesty, Blessed by Thy Name, O Allah guide us.
Written by Kamillah Khan
